Thursday, December 30, 2010

After checking into our hotel, we roamed around the the streets of Toyota City. It was late at about 9pm so majority of the shops have already closed.

Near the end of the year, many companies will be having their end of year celebration aka "bounenkai". So you can see many people dressed in suits walking around in groups as they have just finished their party.

Look at this cute little cover on the floor.

I nearly got knocked by bikes twice for walking carelessly. Walk halfway then pause and take picture, then turn around and walk backwards without looking at my surroundings and I can't seem to walk straight!

A Lawson nearby is still open. I've read that Lawson opened an "Evangelion" themed Lawson in Hakone but had to closed it down because of huge otaku crowds which jammed up the roads. Well, I saw some Evangelion goods in this one.

As well as, Hiro Mizushima's best selling book. Unfortunately it's all in Japanese and my japanese is not up to that level yet.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Was so stupid because I walked down without my outercoat, scarf or gloves!!! I thought it would be fully indoor like at the winery....but manatau~ OMG~~ even with the long john underneath I was freezing cold!! and worse of all the COLD WIND~

What better way to warm myself up than with a nice cup of freshly brewed green tea.

Shopping time again~

Nope...didn't buy any green tea.

Different parts of the tea leaves produces different types of tea.

hmm..interesting lookin objects. I wonder if these were used to dry tea leaves?

oh, hello Kitty-chan, I'm seeing you everywhere~

Off we go on the road again, and of course we need to make a stop every now and then for toilet breaks.

Here we are at the Hamanako service area. It looks dark right? but it's actually not even 6 but because it's winter, day time is short.

Here's is where you get tea at all service area.

Push the button for a paper cup and then pick from a choice of hot green tea, hot roasted tea, hot water or cold water. How thoughtful right??~ It's all these petty little things that I love about Japan.

Monday, December 27, 2010

The complex we were in was the S-Pulse Dream Plaza located in Shizuoka-ku, Shizuoka city. This complex houses Japan's only sushi museum-"Shimizu Sushi Museum", Chibimaruko-chan Land and Shimizu Soccer Museum. The entrance fees into individual museum : Adults-300yen, children-200yen). There's also a game centre here.

First off is lunch which is all-you-can-eat sushi!!!

Look at this masterpiece before you enter the restaurant and museum area. Spot any familiar faces of any presidents you know?

The seating area.....

I'm starved!

Each of us got out own special box filled with....

and......

I love miso soup. I drink like 2 bowls every day.

After you fnish off everything in your box, it's time to move on to the buffet area!!!*sigh* if only this was a sashimi buffet! but no....ahaha

...or you can order something too like these anago. If you want something more special, you will have to pay an extra price.

There's some broiled stuffs too....

Because it's all rice....that was all I could eat!

Time to exercise it all off by taking a short walk in the sushi museum.

Look at this antique clock. Besides telling the time, the tells you the day of the week as well.

ahh....super huge wax sushi pieces. hehhee

A walk back in time

In this museum, you can see the various types of sushi from different regions and stuffs. Also from the past till present. But everything is in japanese.

AAAaa...MINE!!!

Since we had a little time left, I decided to go up to the 3rd floor where the chibimaruko-chan land was located to have a look and ahh....ninjas~!!

Too bad I didn't have time to enter. I could only snap a pic with chibimaruko-chan and her friends outside.

A ferris-wheel at the game centre. Ferris wheels are quite common in Japan. I spotted quite a few while on the bus along the highway.